Portable rocking cot

ABSTRACT

A portable rocking cot in which a cot body is pivotally mounted at one end about a horizontal transverse axis directly on a flat base support, an end part of the latter carrying an electric motor of which a driven rotary member has an eccentric pin engaging a slotted member directly carried by the adjacent other end of the cot body in order to impart rocking movement thereto, spring means being provided for supporting the weight of the cot body from the flat base support adjacent the other end of the cot body in order to appreciably relieve the motor driven actuation of the cot body from the weight of the latter especially when occupied and a covering of flexible material extending between the cot body and base so as to enclose the pivotal mounting, spring support and motor driven actuation and also permitting the rocking movement.

United States Patent [1 1 Thompson 1 PORTABLE ROCKING COT 22 Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 236,078

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 5/109 [51] Int. Cl A47d 9/02 [58] Field of Search 5/108, 109

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,765,478 lO/l956 Pinto 5/109 3,439,363 4/1969 Meeks 5/109 3,653,080 4/1972 Hafele 5/108 3,186,008 6/1965 Fuller 5/109 3,225,265 12/1965 Miller et a1. 5/109 2,668,530 2/1954 Tackaberry 5/109 374,277 12/1887 Smith 5/108 2,311,542 2/1943 Holme 5/109 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 12,848 6/1893 Great Britain 5/109 Apr. 30, 1974 Primary ExaminerBobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Watson, Cole, Grindle &

Watson [57] ABSIRACT A portable rocking cot in which a cot body is pivotally mounted at one end about a horizontal transverse axis directly on a flat base support, an end part of the latter carrying an electric motor of which a driven rotary member has an eccentric pin engaging a slotted member directly carried by the adjacent other end of the cot body in order to impart rocking movement thereto, spring means being provided for supporting the weight of the cot body from the flat base support adjacent the other end of the cot body in order to appreciably relieve the motor driven actuation of the cot body from the weight of the latter especially when occupied and a covering of flexible material extending between the cot body and base so as to enclose the pivotal mounting, spring support and motor driven actuation and also permitting the rocking movement.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure 1 PORTABLE ROCKING COT The object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact and effective construction and arrangement of a motor driven portable rocking cot or carry cot whereby a gentle rocking movement can be imparted to the body of the cot in an automatic manner for the purpose of soothing or lulling a child to sleep in the cot body.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown a side elevation partly in section of a portable or carry cot in accordance with the invention.

Like parts are referred to by the same or similar reference numerals throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawing, a portable or body carry cot 1 is pivotally mounted at or near one end about a transverse axis at 2 on a base 3 and is further supported from the latter at a point or points remote from said end by spring mounting means such as one or more coil springs (not shown) 4 and/or leaf springs.

At the other end of the cot, a transversely slotted or channelled member 6, is mounted on a bracket 5. Member 6 is slidably engaged by an eccentric pin 7 mounted on a rotary member such as a wheel 8 or arm driven by an electric motor 10 on the base 3.

As the rotary member 8 is driven, the co-action of the eccentric pin 7 with the slotted or channelled member 8 imparts a rocking movement to cot body 1 about its transverse pivotal mounting 2 on the base 3, which rocking movement is cushioned by spring mounting 4 which largely relieves the above-mentioned actuating mechanism from the weight of the cot 1 especially when occupied by an infant.

As a result, a small low powered battery driven electric motor 10 can be employed to drive rotary member 8 through a reduction gear drive which can be contained in the motor housing and is preferably silent running during operation.

The motor 10, driving member 8 and a battery 9 or battery compartment can be compactly arranged on the base 3 together with a control switch such as a push button switch 12 mounted on the base 3 at the corresponding end of the latter.

The electric motor 10 can be arranged for mains electrical supply, e.g. through a transformer in which latter case a battery or mains operation can be readily provided.

The motor drive and any battery pivotal mounting 2 and spring support 4 are enclosed on the base by a textile covering or a covering of plastic material 11 of the cot 1 and which is arranged to permit the rocking movement of the latter.

If desired, the complete portable carry cot assembly can be produced in reduced scale form as a toy for enabling a doll to be rocked in the cot in the same manner.

I claim:

1. A portable rocking cot comprising: a flat base support; a cot body closely disposed over said flat base support and pivotally mounted about a horizontal transverse axis at one end directly on said flat base support; spring means supporting said cot body adjacent its other end from said flat base support; an electric motor mounted on an end part of said flat base support adjacent said other end of the cot body, said motor having a rotary member driven thereby, and said rotary member being provided with an eccentrically mounted pin; a horizontally slotted member directly and fixedly mounted on said other end of the cot body, said slotted member being directly engaged by said eccentric pin of said rotary member of said electric motor whereby rocking movement is imparted to said cot body about the horizontal transverse axis on said flat base support during operation of said motor, said spring means supporting the weight of said cot body at said other end thereof thereby appreciably relieving the motor driven eccentric pin and slotted member actuation of said cot body from the weight of the latter especially when occupied; and a covering of flexible material extending between said cot body and said flat base support and enclosing said pivotal mounting, spring supporting means, electric motor and eccentric pin and said slotted member of said cot body, said flexible material permitting the rocking movement of said cot body on said flat base support. 

1. A portable rocking cot comprising: a flat base support; a cot body closely disposed over said flat base support and pivotally mounted about a horizontal transverse axis at one end directly on said flat base support; spring means supporting said cot body adjacent its other end from said flat base support; an electric motor mounted on an end part of said flat base support adjacent said other end of the cot body, said motor having a rotary member driven thereby, and said rotary member being provided with an eccentrically mounted pin; a horizontally slotted member directly and fixedly mounted on said other end of the cot body, said slotted member being directly engaged by said eccentric pin of said rotary member of said electric motor whereby rocking movement is imparted to said cot body about the horizontal transverse axis on said flat base support during operation of said motor, said spring means supporting the weight of said cot body at said other end thereof thereby appreciably relieving the motor driven eccentric pin and slotted member actuation of said cot body from the weight of the latter especially when occupied; and a covering of flexible material extending between said cot body and said flat base support and enclosing said pivotal mounting, spring supporting means, electric motor and eccentric pin and said slotted member of said cot body, said flexible material permitting the rocking movement of said cot body on said flat base support. 